On Monday, 3rd District Judge Anthony Quinn agreed to delay his order - allowing nearly 4,000 acres to bolt from Bluffdale - until the Utah Supreme Court rules on a pending appeal from the city.

"That means the property doesn't go to Herriman and it doesn't go to Salt Lake County," Bluffdale City Attorney Dale Gardiner explained.

That could change if Utah's top court agrees with Quinn and rules against Bluffdale in the development dispute.

In late February, Quinn ordered the property - foothills that make up 38 percent of Bluffdale's landmass - de-annexed because the city failed to give builders a "fair, expeditious and consistent" process during their decade-long push to develop the area.

Bluffdale officials welcomed Monday's stay.

"We are a happy city," Mayor Claudia Anderson said. "We have jurisdiction over the property until the Supreme Court rules."

Developers say they expected the stay, but added that it merely postpones an inevitable disconnection.

"We have full confidence that Judge Quinn's well-reasoned decision will be upheld," said Bruce Baird, an attorney for the developers.

Sorenson Real Estate and Development Associates led the push to disconnect. The two companies control about half the disputed land and want a blend of homes, shops and offices in the area. A future highway would bisect the property, making it prime retail real estate.

The case largely boils down to a dispute over densities. Some city officials - and later a grass-roots group known as Bluffdale United - blocked the development plans because they wanted only one house per acre. The developers wanted a mix of higher- and lower-density housing.

With Quinn's ruling on hold, Bluffdale is open to the idea of resolving the dispute before the case is heard by the Utah Supreme Court.

"It give us another opportunity to settle our differences," Gardiner said.

But the developers, who already have a court victory in hand, aren't talking compromise.

Baird said the only way the developers "might consider settling" is if Bluffdale is "willing to unconditionally surrender."

"They basically have a mayor and City Council that make it virtually impossible to settle the case," said Donald Wallace, president of Sorenson Real Estate. "They've gutted the professional staff. They've gutted the Planning Commission."

Wallace is referring to a Bluffdale City Council decision last week to replace four members of the Planning Commission.

In addition, six city employees have resigned or had their positions eliminated since Anderson and two new council members took office in January.

Giving the developers anything and everything they want isn't something city officials are interested in, Councilwoman Martha Speed said.

Some parcels may not remain vacant during the appeal. Anderson notes another developer has submitted an application to begin building in the disputed territory.

jsantini@sltrib.com